Snap switch



Feb. s, 1927. 1,6i7,o4o

Pf H. ZIMMER SNAP SWITCH Filed OctF 22, 1925 10 of which,

Patented Feb. s, 1927.

Y 1,617,040 UNITED STATES PATE-NT OFFICE.

PAUL 1I. ZIMMER, OF JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

REYNOLDS SPRING COMPANY, WARE.

F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION 0F DELA- SNAP SWITCH.

Application led October l22, 1925. e Serial No. 64,201.k

This invention relates to snap switches. In quick brake or snap electrical switches of the toggle variety, there are times when the switch blade or bar becomes frozen to the contact terminals, incident to oxidation or. for other reasons the blade or bar sticks to the terminals, with the result that the toggle spring fails to perform its function of throwin the switch blade or bar in view angerous conditions are likely to arise. It is, therefore, an obj ect of the present in- .vention to provide' a kiek-off means adapted to exert influence upon the toggle in cooperation with the spring element of the toggle to eliect a ositive quick snap action when the spring o the toggle is conditioned to eiect` the throw of the switch bar carrying yoke or Aframe and thereby ensure positive operation of the switch. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch of the toggle snap type with a kick-off means adapted to coact with the spring toggle element to effect a quick 25 positive throw .of the switch bar carrying `switch mechanism is shown in longitudinal members.

-With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims hereto appended, it. being understood that various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction, within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

`In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view showing, partly in section and partly in elevation, the insulating body in which the switch mechanism lis mounted, theswitch mechanism being shown inelevation;

Fig. 2 is a similar view. except that the section; n

Fi 3 is a transverse sectional view of the switc mechanism removed from the insulating body; n

Fig. 4 is a .detailed perspective view of the switch blade carrying frame or yoke;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of switch operating means;

Fig. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the means for mounting and supporting the switch mechanism within an insulating body.

Referring now more particularly to lthe accompanying drawings, the reference char'- acter 7 indicates a phenol condensation product, or other insulating material, adapted to be enclosed within a metallic box or other receptacle, or casing, (not shown), sufficient material being shown to illustrate an etticient mounting for the switch mechanism.

The insulating material 7 lis provided with a chamber 8 which .communicates with a recess 9 of greater width than the chamber, forming a shoulder 10. T

-Aplate 11 is secured on said shoulder 10 by' means of-suitable fastenings 12 and obviously additional securingl means` may be employed, if desired. This lplate l1 has an opening l'intermediate its ends which establishes communication between the chamber 8 and the recess 9 andv adjacent the sides lof said openings, ears 14e-rise from the side edges of the plate, there being tapering arms 15 ,extending from the side edges of the plate 11 adjacent said opening 13 into said chamber 8 and at their smaller or minor ends carrying outwardly projecting Ajournals 16.A

A switch blade or bar carrying. frame or yoke 17 is swingingly supported from the aforesaid journals 16. This Ayoke or frame 17 is substantially U-shaped in cross section, having an aperture 18 inits bight portion v19 for a purpose presently explained, and in its side walls 2O having L-,shaped slots 21 vat the inner closed ends of which lie the aforesaid journals 16 whereby .to support the yoke or frame 17 from the aforesaid tapering arms 15. The yoke or frame 17 has'each of its sides 2O provided with a'later'ally outwardly directed kick-ofi' stud 22 for a pur- An operatingv device for actuation of the4 switch is journaled in the aforesaid ears 14 of the plate 11. This operating device may consist of a curved member 27 vwhich constitutes -a 'rocking leverl and which may be o erated by a hand piece 28, or by means o? push buttons (not shown) which may be fittedin any suitable manner in the aper tures 29 at the ends 'of the rocking lever 27. Lever 'arms 3 0 project from the rocking lever 27 intermediate the ends thereof on opposite sides of the same and these lever arms 30 are provided each with van aperture 31 wherebyto lpivotally mount the operating device on a pivot 32 mounted inthe -a er- 'tures 33' ofthe aforesaildears14 of the p ate 11, said lever arms 30 projecting through the opening 13 in the plate 11 into the cham@ ber 8 parallel with'the aforesaid arms 15` and Within the latter'and adjacentthereto. The lower endslof these arms are bifurcated as at 34, and these-bifurcations pivwotally,A

embrace the journals 35 ofa rocking plate 36 disposed between the outer ends of the arms 30; This rocking platev36 is held -be-V t twe'en the lever arms 30 with its journals 35 y normally at the closed ends of the bifurcations 34 by means of a spring 37 bearing at,

one end -against said plate 36.and at its opposite end bearing against the bight portion 19 of the aforesald yoke 17, said spring 37 being held in operative position by a rod 38 xed at one end to said rocking plate 36 and at its opposite endsmounted to pass through :the 'aforesaid aperture 18 in the bight portion 19 off the yoke 17. The spring y37 thrusts against the bight portion 19 of the yoke 17 and the rocking plate 36, forming with the yoke and operating lever a spring actuated toggle. f

The rocking lever 27 has spaced pairs of j overhanging ears 39 and 40, one pair between deadwcenter the dependingfupon vdirection of movement of' ,the rocking lever 27, come'in'to engagement 'with' the kick-off ystuds 22 of the yoke 17 and effect ya positive throw of ythe toggle beyondA dead center and consef the' lever arms -30` and the respective ends of the rockingglever with the ears -olset outwardly from alignment ,with/the lever arms 30 so that upon rocking movement of the rocking` lever 2.7, -the coiled 'springl 37 is compressed .on the'rod `38 until the toggle parts reach a .dead centery andimmediately priorl to the togn'le reaching ythe point of lkick-off devices `39 or 40,

ently effect and provide for a positive an quick snap action of the switch mechanism. f

llt will Ithus be seen that l' provide'a sims ple, comparatively inexpensive, durable and efficient hand piece or push button type of toggle variety ot' snap switch in which there v is a positive kick-of? device comprising pairs of kick-ofi' studs 22 carried by the switch bar carryingl frame or yoke 17 ywith which coact pairs of kick-oil devices arranged to 'move into engagement with the kick-oil studs 22 to effect a quick snap action and one which is positive so Ythat in the event of sticking of the switch blades to the contacts, (not shown) t-he switch bar and its `blades are positively released from the terminals or contacts thereby preventing undue weakening of the spring element, and

otherwise preventing injury to the switch mechanism. I As shown the switch bar 23 may -be'spaced fromthe yoke 17 by means of smt- `ableY spacing means 41 and if desired, the

blades 24 may be of the character to embrace "the electrical contacts (not shown) as indi I cated at 42. It might be'stated, however,

that the particular type of 'switch bar or.

switch blade is not essential, nor is the I character of terminal contacts essential, the invention going primarily to the switch mechanism and particularly to the kick-olf device' herein describedy and illustrated/in 'the accompanying drawings.'

What is claimed is: j 1. vAn ,electric switehcomprismg a supfporting means includingv a plate having arms, a switch bar carrying yoke swingingly connected to said arms, a flat rocking lever pivotally connected to said plate and having a curved wing at each endandradapted to be rocked into and out of engagement with said plate on opposite sides of its pivotal connection with said plate, said rocking lever-having lever arms intermediate its endsl -between said wings and bifurcated at their outer ends, a rocking plate having its ends provided with journals fitted 0n the bifurcations of said lever arms, a spring connection between the yoke and the rocking plate,

the rocking lever having kick-off devices arranged i-n pairs on each side thereof, the

kick-ofi' devices of each pair being disposedy provided with integral laterally directed journals, va switch bar carrying yoke including spaced sides having -slots therein and.v

also having projections, one on each side of sald yoke, the journals of the arms of the supporting means operating 1n said slots of lli the yoke, a rocking lever mounted on said means and having spaced lever arms proi vided with bifurcations, a rocking plate havingjournals in the 'bifurcations-of the said lever arms, a spring connection between said rocking plate and the yoke, the rocking lever having kick-off devices arranged in pairs on each side thereof, the .kick-od devices being shorter than the lever arms and each pair of kick-a. devices being disposed on opposite sides of the pivotal connection between said plaie and said lever and offset outside of the plane of said lever arms7 Ythe rocking lever and the lever arms and said kiek-oli' devices being formed of a single piece of material, said yoke having a lateral projection ou each side disposed between the respective pairs of kick-off devices for engagement by the latter to effect a positive quick' snap throw of the switch bar carrying yoke l upon thel operation of said rocking/lever.

3.- ,An electric switch comprisingl a supportlng means lncludlng a plate having arms provided wlth Journals, a swltch bar carrying yoke supported on said journals to swing thereon, a rocking lever mounted on said supporting means. and having curved ends and also havlng lever arms, a rocking plate -connecting the lever arms, a spring connection between the rocking plate and the yoke, the yoke having lateral projections and pairs of kick-off devices arranged on opposite sides of the lever arms and between the latter and the curved ends of the rocking plate and offset with relation to the lever arms whereby upon engagement of the respective pairs' of kick-oil' devices with the lugs of the yoke a quick positive throw of the switch is el'ected, said rocking lever and its curved ends and the lever` arms and pairs of kick-off devices being formed of a single piece of material.

In testimony' `whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

'PAUL H. ZIMMER. 

